The Marianist Family is a group of four Roman Catholic organizations which trace their origins to Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

William Joseph Chaminade

William Joseph Chaminade or Guillaume-Joseph Chaminade, now called by his liturgical title of Blessed Chaminade , was a French Roman Catholic priest who survived persecution during the French Revolution. He founded the Society of Mary, also called the Marianists, in 1817...

 and Mother Adèle de Batz de Tranquelleon

Adèle de Batz de Tranquelleon

Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon founded the Daughters of Mary Immaculate , or Marianist Sisters, a Roman Catholic order of nuns and one of the four branches of the Marianist Family. Adele was born to a wealthy, aristocratic French family that was exiled for several years during the French Revolution...

. The Family's four branches are the Society of Mary (Marianists)

Society of Mary (Marianists)

The Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic Marian Society, is a congregation of brothers and priests called The Marianists or Marianist Brothers and Priests. The Society was founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, a priest who survived the anti-clerical persecution during the French Revolution. ...

, an order of priests and brothers; the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI), an order of nuns; the Alliance Mariale (AM), an historically all-female secular institute

Secular institute

In the Roman Catholic Church, a secular institute is an organization of individuals who are consecrated persons – professing the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience – while living in the world, unlike members of a religious order who live in community. It is one of the...

, composed of laypeople who "dedicate their lives to God by taking vows while living in the world"; and Marianist Lay Communities (MLC), a private association of the faithful, including both men and women.